The Cognitive Bias of Assuming Non-Existence in Early Childhood Development

This article explores a foundational cognitive bias in early human development: the tendency to assume non-existence prior to discovery. It argues that children, through early perceptual experience, develop a mental model where absence is presumed until evidence proves otherwise. This schema affects trust, learning, and even philosophical outlooks in adulthood. The paper further examines how modern education and media reinforce this bias, and suggests reforms to encourage openness to the unknown and metacognitive awareness from early stages.